[transitfan]

Originally Posted by mdiederi

Sansinena Oil Tanker Explosion Los Angeles Harbor 1976


Photographer: Jack Gaunt / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Bill Hodge / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Cal Montney / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Marilynn K. Lee / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Peter Brandt / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0


Photographer: Bruce Cox / Los Angeles Times
http://framework.latimes.com/2010/12...the-harbor/#/0

• Video Link


The Sansinena was a Liberian oil tanker that exploded in Los Angeles harbor on December 17, 1976.

The vessel was a steamship built in 1958. At its final port of call, the Sansinena had discharged its cargo of crude oil and was taking on ballast and fuel when a massive explosion split the ship in half and obliterated multiple port buildings. The blast shattered windows for miles around and triggered a fire that spread across the dock and around the tanker. The Los Angeles Fire Department soon arrived on the scene to contain the blaze and rescue survivors. A United States Coast Guard investigation later concluded that the incident was caused by flammable vapor buildup on the deck of the ship. The ignition source was never identified.

The official casualty count is:

• 6 dead, all members of the Italian crew
• 3 missing and presumed dead (two crew and one dock security guard)
• 46 injured, 9 requiring hospitalization

The explosion of the Sansinena and technical details of the incident were featured as the first segment of the Engineering Disasters of the 70's episode of History Channel's Modern Marvels television series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Sansinena

I remember that! I had only been living in L. A. for a few months. I was living in Palms (on Bagley, 1 block north of Venice) and I felt the rumbling in my apartment (had to be at least 20 miles away). At first, thought it might be an earthquake (I had yet to actually experience a temblor at that point, so I didn't know what to expect), later I was watching the news on TV and that's when I knew what had happened.